I believe “surgical” was historically added to distinguish these procedures from laser-based interventions, which achieve a similar anatomical outcome without tissue excision.
Given that laser iridectomy was inactivated and replaced by laser iridotomy in SNOMED CT (from your advice on laser procedures), the continued coexistence of both iridectomy and surgical iridectomy appears duplicative.
Your advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
5 Comments
Anthony Khawaja
I agree, the only way to get an "ectomy" (i.e. removal of tissue) is surgical!
Ian Rodrigues
Totally agree!
Michael Boland
Can we keep them as synonyms in some way? Though the -otomy and -ectomy bits are clear, there is much misuse of the two (hence the prior "laser iridectomy"). Having both "Laser iridotomy" and "Surgical iridectomy" represents a bit of a belt-and-suspenders approach.
Elaine Wooler
Changes made with inactivation of 265289002 |Surgical iridectomy (procedure)| but as Michael Boland suggested we have added "surgical iridectomy" as a synonym to 36812006 |Iridectomy (procedure)|.
Anthony Khawaja
Thanks Elaine!